Do Something Different
I was reading an article about Robert Rauschenberg in last month’s Art in America (Sept issue page 38) and it left a lasting impression. Charles Stuckey, who wrote the article, mentions …”that he made something odd and extraordinary nearly every day for 60 years” and that “Rauschenberg had fun.” Now here’s my type of guy! I remembered it slightly different, and it became my motto for the week….”make something different every day and have fun”. Well, OK, just a slight rewrite. But it really gave me a new boost in my studio work. When I got to my studio each day last week, I gave myself as a first task to do something different. It took the pressure off of finishing my current work for a bit, and I got to take a creative break. I definitely had fun coming up with new things. I painted some bold shapes over a very languid peaceful seascape that was boring me. I drew on top of gold leaf panels, then poured transparent paint over them. Even though I am not sure about the results of those experiments, I highly recommend trying to surprise yourself, as a first task routine for a few days. This week I am heading up to Ghost Ranch, Georgia O’Keeffe’s old hang out in Abiquiu, New Mexico. The fall leaves are still brilliant, and I am going to try something different. Instead of my usual plein air (outdoor landscape painting) gear of oil pastels and small sketch pad, I am bringing along the new slow drying acrylic paints by Golden, called Open Acrylic. They have a long open time, staying wet for over 24 hours. Here in DRY New Mexico under the hot outdoor sun I am guessing I’ll have a few hours instead. But, hey, thanks to advice from Robert - its something DIFFERENT!
Labels: Artist to Artist
posted by Nancy Reyner at
4:28 PM
2 Comments:
oohhh, have fun, wish I could tag along! am loving your book, still, and wish, wish, wish I could have another class with you!
Wow - Georgia O'Keeffe - when I first began painting only a few years back her work totally had me hooked. I loved the movement and colours she uses - and when asked who most inspired me - it was Georgia O'Keeffe. I am really astounded that all of a sudden our paths have crossed Nancy - and here you are on this blog talking about the one person who totally had me hooked on painting! I only came across her work through the internet in the first place - yes! This lovely world of cyberspace!
When you say you painted over a seascape - it reminds me of my butterfly artwork - it had some very vibrant flowers on it to begin with - then I totally destroyed them and began with the bold brushstrokes - only to end up with my lovely butterflies and then your book arrived and I added another dimension and voila! A whole new magical piece of art! By the way, I have found a new supplier for my paints here in good ol' NZ and they sell Golden products - I am hooked! Bye for now.
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